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Warren Johnson - 2007 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee

After racing through life as a six-time champion in the National Hot Rod
Association, Warren Johnson is maintaining a rapid pace when it comes to being
inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (IMHOF).

Johnson, 63, figured he would have to wait a few more years before hearing
his name called as an IMHOF member. Instead, he is going in as part of the Class
of 2007, along with Bruton Smith, Jack Ingram, Junie Donlavey, Ray Hendrick and
Wayne Rainey.

"When I looked at some of the distinguished names on the list of the 20
finalists (for induction this year), I pretty much dismissed my chances of being
included in the final cut," Johnson admitted. "I was rather amazed when I
received the call letting me know that I was among the six inductees. To have my
name listed alongside such racing legends … is quite an honor."

Johnson won 96 Pro Stock races in his 30-year NHRA career and captured the
title in the POWERade Pro Stock division six times. He is No. 7 on the list of
the NHRA's 50 Greatest Drivers, and becomes only the seventh member of the drag
racing community to be inducted into the IMHOF, joining Wally Parks, "Big Daddy"
Don Garlits, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, Shirley Muldowney, Joe Amato and Bob
Glidden.

Johnson gives much of the credit for his achievements to the team he has
assembled around him at Warren Johnson Enterprises.

"Whatever success I have enjoyed is strictly the result of the quality of the
people I have had working with me over the years," Johnson said.

But it was Johnson who built and expanded that team. He said he was able to
do so because he viewed drag racing as more than just a sport.

"I have attacked this arena differently than some of my Pro Stock
contemporaries, in that I have always seen this as a business, and treat it as
such," said Johnson, who is known as "The Professor" to many of his friends and
colleagues. "Therefore, more than anything else, I had to make a profit at the
end of the year. Without a profit, there is no business. It's a philosophy that
has served me well for over 30 years."

Johnson won his first race in 1963 at Minnesota Dragway, near his hometown of
Fridley, Minn. He began racing NHRA Pro Stock fulltime in 1975, finishing second
in the point standings in '76 and fifth in '77.

Johnson took a brief break from the NHRA circuit from 1979-81. During that
time, he won back-to-back IHRA Pro Stock titles and competed in a number of
"barnstorming" match-race events.

He returned to the NHRA and won his first national event at the 1982 Summer
Nationals. That began a streak in which Johnson won at least one national event
for 20 consecutive years. He dominated Pro Stock in the 1990s, winning
championships in 1992, '93, '95, '98 and '99. He won 30 percent of the races
during that decade and appeared in 44 percent of the final rounds. Johnson
closed the decade by running the top speed at every event on the schedule during
the 1999 season.

While induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame could be
considered an ideal way for him to cap his career, Johnson gives no indication
that he is ready to slow down.

"I doubt this will be my swan song," Johnson said. "The only certainty is
that I'll know it when it gets here, and since I haven't seen the day I'll leave
the sport yet, I'm not about to try and forecast it. After all, I still have to
make a living at this."

About the International Motorsports Hall of Fame & Museum
Opened in April of 1983, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum
is dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports. Each year, the
annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is held on the
grounds of the museum to honor those men and women chosen for induction from
among the greatest names in all of

motorsports. This year's black-tie ceremony
consists of a reception, banquet and awards ceremony and is set for Thursday,
April 26, 2007. Individual tickets are $125 and a table for eight may be
reserved for $1,000 by calling (256) 362-5002. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are
accepted. The IMHOF and Museum and Pitshop Retail Store are open from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m., 7 days a week with the exception of major holidays. Admission to the
museum is $10 for adults, $5 for kids age 7 to 17 and free for kids age 6 and
younger. Tours of Talladega Superspeedway are also available at a cost of $5 for
adults, $4 for kids age 7 to 17 and free for kids age 6 and younger. A
discounted combo tour of both facilities is also available.

About Aaron's Dream Weekend At Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway officials are preparing to welcome back fans for its
first races of the 2007 NASCAR season during the Aaron's Dream Weekend,
featuring the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series and Aaron's 499 NEXTEL Cup Series
races, set for April 27-29. Tickets for and more information about the Aaron's
Dream Weekend are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (462-3342) Monday through
Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT, or by
logging onto www.racetickets.com. For
our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725).
You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket
Office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday.